Sister of Melbourne plane crash victim says her 'heart is broken'

The sister of one of four Texas golfers who died when an aircraft crashed into a Melbourne shopping centre has paid tribute to her “handsome, athletic big brother”.

Denelle Wicht said her older brother, Greg De Haven, was “thrilled” about his three week trip around Australia and New Zealand.

The group’s light plane had just taken off from Essendon Airport around 9am on Tuesday when pilot Max Quartermain made two mayday calls. It then crashed into the rear of DFO Essendon, near the Spotlight and Focus on Furniture shops.

“He told me about this wonderful trip all set up with all his friends,” Mrs Wicht said during a video interview.

Mr De Haven, 70, was a former FBI agent and US army veteran who “liked to keep active”.

“He loved the water, loved being outside, trained for a long time to be in a triathlalon.”

She said he didn’t like being in the limelight, and was “well-liked, sarcastic, funny and just a really lovely guy”.